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July 02, 2009
Bicyclists pay taxes too.
The BTA continues to advocate that more funding at all levels of government go toward creating and improving facilities to make cycling safe, convenient, and accessible.
Photos, impressions of new bike corral on SE 28th at Ankeny
Slideshow below - (Photos © J. Maus)
Yesterday, city maintenance crews put the finishing touches on Portland’s 19th bike corral (number 20, just a block away at SE Pine, should be done any day now). This one is in front of Crema Bakery on SE 28th at Ankeny.
The first thing I noticed as I approached on the southbound side of 28th is how nicely the new, angled orientation of the racks works. Putting the staples at an angle makes them easier to slide into and it also means that bikes don’t stick out into the street as much (something I’m sure PBOT is happy about).
This corral also makes this intersection feel like even more of a bike district. SE 28th, with its bridge over I-84, is a very popular north/south bike route. And Ankeny is one of the busiest bike streets (and one of the original bike boulevards) in Portland.
As I said, 28th is a busy route, but with only one travel lane in each direction and on-street parking on both sides, it’s not always the most pleasant place to ride (not a lot of space for bikes and taking the lane sometimes results in shouting matches). Thankfully, Metro awarded the new Twenties Bikeway project $2.38 million in the recent round of regional flexible funding (more on that project in a separate post).
wide bike lane on this street.
Where will it go?
The Twenties Bikeway project is slated to make 28th much more friendly to bikes. But (and thanks to a reader for pointing this out) the plans for this segment of SE 28th (between Burnside and Stark) call for the removal of on-street parking on one side and the installation of new, 4.5 foot bike lanes on each side.
The questions I’m still trying to find answers to are: Which side of the street is slated to have car parking removed (there will be a bike corral on each side)? And, how will PBOT fit a 4.5-foot wide bike lane between the new corrals and motor vehicle traffic?
UPDATE: According to PBOT Bicycle Coordinator Roger Geller, the Twenties Bikeway project is still years away and the final design for 28th is yet to be determined. “It’s way too early to say how the corral will be impacted in a design treatment for 28th,” he wrote in a comment below, “In other words, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Stay tuned for more corrals coming to SE 28th. PBOT’s Sarah Figliozzi says one is slated in front of Fonda Rosa/Beuhlaland at Couch Street and in front of Tabla/Bishops at Davis.
Check out more photos in the slideshow below (or browse the gallery):
– If you’re curious how PBOT selects locations for these bike corrals, read our story from yesterday, How PBOT plans for bike corrals.
City brings bike boulevard plans to neighborhoods
process for more bike boulevards.
(Photo © J. Maus)
The City of Portland is about to embark on a series of open houses to inform neighborhoods about their bike boulevard plans.
The Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is busy planning and designing 15 miles of new, low-traffic streets throughout the metro area. PBOT has planned two open houses for each of the six neighborhoods/districts where the bike boulevards are planned.
PBOT has already completed their public outreach process for the N. Wabash and SE Spokane bike boulevard projects and now they’re tackling the outreach component for projects on; NE Going, N Bryant, N Concord, SE Mill, SE Center, and SW Terwilliger/Westwood.
According to PBOT’s Transportation Safety Program Manager Mark Lear, the first of the two meetings will discuss what PBOT hopes to achieve with the project and why they selected those particular streets.
Lear says they’ll bring data to the first meetings showing residents current crash rates, traffic volumes and crossing treatments; “Essentially, we want to share with them what we know about the streets so we can determine how to best prioritize improvements.”
The idea is to “get smarter about local knowledge” of the streets Lear said. He also mentioned that in between the two meetings, PBOT will work with neighborhoods to try and plan bike rides and/or walks to get a first-hand look at the conditions.
At the second meeting, PBOT plans to bring neighborhoods one or two proposals of their recommendations for street improvements and get further feedback. Lear made it clear that they won’t be asking for an up or down vote on the project, but would just want to get a general “OK” on the plans before moving forward.
PBOT is being extremely careful in communication with neighborhoods about these bike boulevard projects. They have a clear memory of battles over street “improvements” (not everyone agrees on how to improve a street) and they obviously hope to steer clear of those and have a smooth public process. Primarily, PBOT wants to make sure residents feel empowered by the process and not like PBOT is coming to them with pre-conceived plans.
In a copy of an invite to the Going Street open house, PBOT writes (bold emphasis theirs, not mine), “The Bureau of Transportation has scheduled a public meeting to discuss the potential project with your neighbors.”
If all goes well, and neighborhoods like the recommendations from PBOT, it would then either be approved by the Director of PBOT or City Council.
According to Lear, the goal is to have the first 15 miles of bike boulevards completed by June of next year. PBOT has $780,000 to spend on the project, cobbled together from a variety of sources including $350,000 from the Bureau of Environmental Services’ Green Streets program, $180,000 from Mayor Adams’ newly established Affordable Transportation Fund, and $75,000 from the Portland Development Commission’s Interstate Corridor Renewal Area program.
PBOT should have more information on their website soon. For now, more details can be found on the BTA website and the full meeting schedule is posted below.
Schedule of Public Meetings
Note: All events will take place from 6:30 - 8:30 pm
NE Going
Tuesday, July 7 & August 4
Bethany Lutheran Church, 4330 NE 37th Ave
N Bryant
Thursday, July 9 & August 6
Columbia Cottage, Friends of Columbia Park, 4339 N Lombard St
N Concord
Tuesday, July 14 & August 11
Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, 5340 N Interstate
SE Mill
Thursday, July 16 & August 13
SE Precinct, 737 SE 106th Ave
SE Center
Tuesday, July 21 & August 18
Mt Scott Community Center (Poolside Room), 5530 SE 72nd Ave
SW Terwilliger/Westwood
Thursday, July 23 & August 20
Multnomah Arts Center, Room 30, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy
Editorial: Marketing campaign asks the wrong question
I really hoped to ignore this story, but now that word about it has spread I sort of have to (unfortunately, a mere Twitter update didn’t suffice).
A local web marketing/consulting firm has plastered a MAX train with the question: “Should cyclists pay a road tax?”
The company says they’re doing this campaign to demonstrate how effective they are at analyzing web conversations. They say the question of bike licensing and registration have been hot topics in Portland lately (and then they link to an article we posted way back in March).
I don’t agree that the topic has been “hot” lately; but it might be now, thanks to this misguided publicity stunt.
The problem is that the question has (yet again) been posed in a discriminatory and unbalanced way. It plays into the idea that there are two classes of people, “cyclists” and “motorists,” and that “cyclists” are somehow getting a free ride and don’t deserve to be on the roads.
That premise is blatantly untrue.
No matter how many times it’s rationally refuted, this question about whether bikes pay for the roads continues to come up.
So, let’s review a few things:
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FWHA), 92% of the funds for local roads (the ones where people ride bikes the most) come from property, income, and sales taxes — which everyone pays for.
Bikes can’t ride on interstates and very few people ride on state highways, but 8% of highway funds come from general taxes, which are paid by everyone — so people who don’t even own a car end up subsidizing motor vehicle travel.
But that’s just the start of the subsidies all taxpayers (yes, even “cyclists”) pay. Consider how general taxes help pay for all the fire trucks and ambulances that respond to the daily carnage caused by cars crashing into each other.
And that’s just the start. I could mention how bikes have a negligible impact on roads, where cars and trucks cause extensive and expensive damage (ridden over any big bumps/ruts/potholes lately?).
In fact, a May 2008 study by UC Davis’ Institute for Transportation Studies estimated that; “the total ‘tax subsidy’ to motor-vehicle users in the US may be in the range of $19–64 billion per year, or $0.11–0.37 per gallon of motor fuel.” (Thanks to a commenter below for pointing this study out.)
Oh, and there’s also the thing about how having bikes on the road means lower health care costs, safer streets for all users (not just people on bikes), better air quality, less congestion, and so on and so forth.
It’s very unfortunate that this ad campaign will do nothing but perpetuate a fallacy and enrage people in cars who already spew this question as they rage by people on bikes who have every right to be on the road.
And, like similar arguments I’ve had to make when The Oregonian and a local shock-jock radio station irresponsibly fanned the “bikes vs. cars” flames, this type of thing can have a tangible, negative impact on public safety.
If they wanted to delve into this topic, they should have asked “Do people who drive cars pay enough?” or even better, “How the heck are we going to pay for these roads?!”
The company says they’ll plaster another MAX train with the results of their study. We can’t wait. Maybe once this is over we can finally move on to a more important topic.
July 01, 2009
TriMet re-opens portion of I-205 path
(Photo: TriMet)
TriMet re-opened a 1.6 mile section of the I-205 multi-use path yesterday. Word from spokeswomen Mary Fetsch is that the stretch between SE Caruthers and SE Harold is now open since light rail construction has been completed in that segment.
Fetsch also said that the section of the path from Foster south to Clackamas Town Center/SE Sunnyside Rd. is set to open on September 12th, the same day TriMet opens their new MAX Green Line.
The project to build the Green Line began in March 2007 and bike traffic through this vital north/south corridor has been re-routed ever since. Light rail construction is now complete, but Fetsch says the southern portion of the path will remain closed while they finish up the re-paving and lighting installation.
Once the nearly 7-mile long project is completed, the multi-use path will be wider in many spots, will have an elevated crossing over SE Foster/Woodstock, new lighting, direct access to MAX transit stations, and revamped landscaping and public art installations.
For full details on updated detours, download TriMet’s fact sheet on the project (200KB, PDF).
The Night Ride Rider Profile: Ashman Family
Staying up past his bedtime to eat his heart's desire of donuts is just one reason that six year old Levi Ashman is looking forward to The Night Ride on July 11. Levi will be riding with his parents and extended family on his first solo ride, a significant moment for this budding little cyclist. Levi's parents, Jennifer and Brian, are looking forward to sharing the experience with their son. "Riding is very important to our family. Our children - ages 6, 4 and 2 - have all grown up around bikes from a very young age, and they look forward...
Read more or comment at ORbike
Reader photo: How not to park your bike
A reader just sent this photo in with this comment:
“Shame on You” bike parking today at the Red Cross on Vancouver Ave, near the hospital. Very funny, and sad, and annoying as all hell. I could not fit my bike into the rack, hooked it to the handrail, and got a “warning” from security.
Do you run across examples of thoughtless bike parking practices in your daily rounds? Here’s a chance to get it off your chest and make suggestions for improvement.
At streetcar pep rally, LaHood has high praise for Portland
capitol of our country.”
(Photos © J. Maus)
In a show of political support the likes of which I’ve never seen, a host of elected officials were on hand this morning to welcome U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to Portland. They assembled at the base of the Aerial Tram (with tons of bikes parked everywhere) to cheer on Portland’s fast-moving streetcar plans and to unveil a prototype of the first streetcar to be made in America in nearly 60 years.
Speaking to the crowd, LaHood made it clear where he stands:
“I came here today because Portland is the transportation capital of our country, Portland is the green capital of our country, Portland is the streetcar capital of our country, and Portland is, the livable community capital of America!”
(That line went over so well, LaHood repeated it again at the end of his speech.)
LaHood lauded the fact that public transportation has been “part of the DNA here” for decades. “It’s difficult to imagine greater Portland,” he said, “without streetcars, light rail, and buses to take commuters and tourists almost anywhere they need to go.”
It was a day for hearty congratulations and optimism and pats on the back. Rep. Peter DeFazio called federal money set aside for Portland’s streetcar projects, “a great example of a good earmark.”
Governor Ted Kulongoski piled on the green excitement by calling his recently passed Jobs and Transportation Act of 2009 “the greenest” in Oregon’s history (despite the fact that it was roundly criticized by environmental groups, gives only paltry consideration to bicycles and has $900 million worth of highway project earmarks).
Congressman Blumenauer was very excited to have LaHood’s support for streetcar and livable communities. He praised LaHood for being able to figure out in four months, “what the Bush administration couldn’t figure out in four years.”
Also during his speech, Blumenauer said the event, “Celebrates the nexus of how our community has approached livability, transportation, land use and empowering citizens.” He also pointed the adjacent LEED Platinum building and “bicycles all over the place” and said the location of the event “highlights what we’re all about.” (He also referred to George Will as “goofy” for his criticisms of LaHood and Portland).
After the speeches, the dignitaries took a ceremonial first ride in the new streetcar.
I came to this event knowing it wouldn’t offer much in the way of bike news, but I wanted to see first-hand what it’s like for a non-highway transportation mode to garner so much mainstream political attention.
An event like this — only with a bike funding project announcements and a new, “Made in USA” bicycle in place of the streetcar — should be the primary goal of every bike advocacy group in the nation.
I agree with speakers that the event signals a “new dawn” (or more accurately a re-dawn) for America’s transportation future, but I wonder where bikes fit in. It’s growing ever more clear that our historic allegiance to cars and highways is on the wane (slightly), and it’s also very apparent that streetcars and light rail trains are masterfully seizing the opportunity to feast on the federal funding trough in their place.
I have a lot of questions about this enthusiasm for streetcars. At what cost do we reap its reported benefits (construction and ongoing operations are very expensive) relative to costs to aggressively promote bike usage? Will their presence degrade the quality of the bikeway network? What mode — bikes or streetcars — have the highest return on investment? Are streetcars a viable mode of transportation or are they primarily a tool to spur new development? How will bike projects compete against streetcar projects for non-motorized transportation funding?
As the shiny new streetcar rolled down the tracks for the first time, stuffed to the gills with Sec. LaHood and just about every major politician in our region (except for Mayor Adams, who was likely in a City Council meeting), I couldn’t help but notice the irony that there was a major lack of bike parking capacity to service the nearby buildings.
Let’s hope that, in this moment of cheerleading for livable communities and excitement for funding green transportation modes, the interest from politicians to seriously invest in our bikeways doesn’t just roll on by.
– More coverage of today’s event on the Portland Mercury blog.
KBOO Bike Show: Bicycle Justice
Listen to the show (mp3, 27.8MB) Sara and Elly host a conversation about bicycle justice, with lawyer Bob Mionske, author of Cycling and the Law and social worker Meghan Sinnott. Mionske discusses the biases against bicycling inherent in law...
Read more or comment at Portland Transport
How PBOT plans for bike corrals
As we’ve been covering with regularity in recent weeks, the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation has been busy installing new on-street bike parking facilities. Known as “bike corrals,” they have proven to be very popular with the community and with business owners.
Each time we cover a new installation, many people wonder how a specific spot was chosen over another. I’ve talked to several business owners that have been frustrated at the time it takes to get one and/or by not even being considered for one at all.
At Biwa in Southeast Portland, owner Gabe Rosen has resorted to having customers fill out comment cards and sign up for an email list to petition the City to put one in front of his restaurant.
PBOT installed the first bike corral in September of 2004 (in front of Fresh Pot on N. Shaver at Mississippi). They went two years before installing another one while they worked on funding, policy, and design issues. With all that worked out, since last fall PBOT has put in 15 corrals throughout the city, with the two most recent ones just completed yesterday.
According to the PBOT staffer in charge of the program, Sarah Figliozzi, they currently have over 60 businesses requesting corrals and they have 150 location suggestions on file (mostly from comments received at Bike Master Plan open houses).
Businesses are clamoring for these facilities for many reasons; they improve the pedestrian space by getting bikes out of the way, they increase parking capacity, they improve visibility, and so on. In addition, PBOT now has funding to pay for the facilities, a change from previous policy that required business owners to foot the bill (about $2-3,000) themselves.
Another policy change that Figliozzi says they’ve made is that they no longer serve requests on a first-come, first-serve basis. Now, she and PBOT staff are tackling entire commercial corridors at the same time. Figliozzi says this new approach takes more time, but makes her planning efforts “more robust and efficient.”
Figliozzi has dealt with her share of disappointed and impatient business owners, but she feels that PBOT has an obligation to understand the entire business district’s transportation needs on a whole, instead of just responding to individual requests.
The commercial corridors Figliozzi is currently working on are SE/NE 28th Ave. between Glisan and Stark and NE Albert Street.
So, if you want a bike corral and you’re on a commercial corridor, PBOT then assesses the bike parking demand. Figliozzi says this isn’t as easy as it seems.
“Demand needs to be apparent,” she wrote to me via email, “but latent demand is also a factor.” On that note, she pointed out a recent corral that went in at Dragonfly Cafe in Northwest Portland. There was only one staple rack in place, but after the corral went in customers now fill 12 bike parking spaces.
But Figliozzi warns that latent demand “can’t be overly emphasized.” She said she gets many requests from businesses with no bike parking whatsoever and show no obvious existing demand. Figliozzi says it’s “fantastic” to see this type of enthusiasm, but that it’s also, “not justifiable to use City funding on these locations where one or two racks will meet demand.”
Figliozzi says that in the future, she hopes the City will have the staffing resources (needed to install the racks) to be able to offer businesses the option to pay for corrals themselves at low demand locations.
Once there’s a clear demand, the City moves forward with the request (and as requests pile up, Figliozzi says so does the lag time in processing them). A key part of the process is to get a signed “Maintenance Agreement”. The business adjacent to the bike corral must ensure that the facility stays free of debris. It’s an important consideration, because once the corrals go in, the City can no longer sweep the street.
Figliozzi has been making the rounds to neighborhood and business associations to explain the process and the benefits associated with the corrals. She also says PBOT has finally put more information about on-street bike corrals on their website.
Stay tuned for photos and more coverage as bike corral installation season remains in full swing.
Metro re-brands regional parks, trails effort as “The Intertwine”
unveiling the new logo.
(Photos © J. Maus)
Last night, at the headquarters of Keen Footwear in the Pearl District, Metro Council President David Bragdon unveiled the new name and logo that will serve as the umbrella for a bi-state effort to build out our regional trails and parks system: The Intertwine.
Formerly known as Connecting Green, the effort launched over two years ago with an ambitious goal — to create the world’s best system of parks, natural areas and trails. The idea was to help focus and organize the efforts of the many community leaders and agencies who were already working that goal.
Speaking to a crowd last night that included Senator Jeff Merkley, Bragdon said there was a lot of great working being done, but he wondered, “Is all of this adding up to the sum of the parts?”. “The one thing we’re missing,” he said, “Is a way to talk about this to citizens…an umbrella we can all use when we’re going after grants… when we’re looking for ways to share what we’re doing.”
So, what exactly is The Intertwine?
Here’s an excerpt from how David Bragdon described it last night:
Mike Houck, “the heart and soul of the Intertwine”.
“The Intertwine already exists in the hearts of the people that are here, they just don’t know it yet… they don’t have that word to use to explain it to others or to each other. But, if you ask people about what they love about living in this region, chances are a vast majority are going to tell you something about we like that we have trails, parks, nature in the city… they’d use a whole lot of words, what we’re trying to do is give them one word that will help to brand this region to ourselves and to outsiders and to give all the constituent partners — whether it’s the City of Forest Grove or the City of Gresham, the City of Portland, the Watershed Council — an umbrella where they can all work together.”
And here’s how it’s explained on a brochure passed out last night:
there to show support.
“The Intertwine is an ever-growing network of integrated parks, trails and natural areas that will one day soon be the world’s greatest system of its kind. The Intertwine provides unparalleled opportunities to preserve natural areas, open spaces, water and wildlife habitat. It reflects our region’s passion for quality of life by encouraging recreation, connection to nature, and active transportation — like walking, running and biking. As our urban areas grow denser, The Intertwine will promote the health and happiness we, as citizens of the Pacific Northwest, so dearly value.”
The Intertwine (I’m still waiting for the name to grow on me) is essentially Connecting Green 2.0. I asked Bragdon why they changed the name. He said,
“We felt ‘Connecting Green’ was more about the various agencies and movement while ‘Intertwine’ is more about the place and the function. We wanted a name that really is about the user and the user’s experience, rather than about us and the other providers.”
So, why should you care about this?
The Intertwine has five major focus areas (they call them petals on a flower with the “core team” in the center), one of which is “Trails”. Don’t let that word fool you, this is not just about recreational, multi-use paths. Through this effort, Metro convened a Blue Ribbon Committee for Trails that ended up focusing more on trails as transportation corridors and building the case for an “integrated mobility strategy” (you can download a PDF of that here).
of this in the future.
Last October, they did a study tour of Copenhagen and Amsterdam and, while the Committee is completed their initial charge, several members remain engaged and are now volunteer as lobbyists for state and federal funding of non-motorized transportation and other tasks. One member of this new “Executive Council” is former President/CEO of the Portland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Randy Miller (who was also featured in the Mercury’s recent Bike Issue as Portland’s “secret bike champion”).
This might sound like a lot of marketing pizazz and just another bureaucracy, but it’s not. Metro has put a lot of resources behind this and they mean business. Don’t forget that Metro recently awarded record levels of federal funding to bike projects.
Along with the new Intertwine moniker, Metro announced last night that they’ll kick off the effort to the public on National Park(ing) Day, Friday September 18th. Metro plans to “celebrate the mission” of The Intertwine by coordinating Park(ing) Day throughout the region. The plan is to have every park and natural area in the region set up displays in parking spaces around Pioneer Square in downtown Portland.
For more, check out the old Connecting Green website or the new TheIntertwine.org (which I assume will be updated soon).
The Night Ride lights up Portland on July 11
It's a disco bike dance party + donut fest, and it benefits the BTA!
June 30, 2009
US DOT Secretary in Portland today
streetcar manufacturing progress.
(Photo © J. Maus)
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will be in Portland today. The Daily Journal of Commerce and reliable sources say that LaHood will join regional transportation officials near the Aerial Tram tomorrow morning.
LaHood is expected to show his support for Portland’s burgeoning streetcar network (not that it needs it, streetcar is getting money from everywhere right now) and to get a first-hand look at a prototype of a locally manufactured streetcar (by Clackamas-based Oregon Ironworks).
Back in April, LaHood said on C-SPAN that Portland is a “model” for streetcar development.
LaHood is fresh off a photo-op in Denver where he helped break ground on a stimulus-funded road resurfacing and bike path improvement project. The $32 million project includes $5 million to reconstruct a bike path that runs alongside a highway. LaHood told a Denver TV station that, “making it easier for people to bike helps the environment.”
LaHood’s visit bodes very well for local streetcar backers and it also shows that he’s not shy about his support for transit and non-highway modes. Back in May, LaHood was ridiculed by Newsweek columnist George Will for his support of Portland’s streetcar and bike infrastructure efforts.
We’ll be there to check out the scene tomorrow. LaHood’s visit is specifically about streetcars, but if he has anything to say about bikes, we’ll definitely let you know.
Better living through bike parking
(Photos © J. Maus)
Yesterday I ventured over to Northeast 28th Street to see PBOT’s latest installation of on-street bike parking.
The City has been on a bike parking binge of late. With new on-street corrals installed in North Portland just last week, they seem to be putting these in as fast as maintenance crews’ schedules allow. The new corral on NE Glisan at 28th in front of Pambiche restaurant is the 18th in Portland and two more (both on 28th, one at Ankeny and the other at Pine) will be done any day now.
While staring at the new parking in front of Pambiche, it struck me that this is about much more than just a place to park a vehicle. At the popular restaurant, diners sit mere inches from the curb — a place where, just a few days ago, cars spewed toxic exhaust into the air as they parked.
Along with the staple racks, an adjacent bike lane increases the buffer zone between humans and car even more. The result is a space that is now open and clear; a place where people have more room (and cleaner air) to breathe.
I find this sort of thing profound. Imagine, something that comes out of the transportation department (not from health services or environmental planning) that has a direct, positive impact on the health of our city and our quality of life (not to mention that Pambiche now has 20 more parking spaces for paying customers).
Often, amid “bike vs. car” wars, debates over funding, and wonky infrastructure discussions, we lose sight of the fact that bikes are much more than just a viable form of transportation. A city that puts a high-priority on bicycling is a city that will hasten not just a transformation in how we move around, but in how we feel and how we experience urban life.
– For more on bike corrals, browse our Bike Parking section archives.
June 29, 2009
Jackson's Ride the Gorge rider profile: The Slow Spokes
What does it take to be a part of the Slow Spokes? "You should always be the last to start, the last to finish, and you simply must enjoy every minute of the ride!" Meet Anne Hasson, leader of the Slow Spokes - a group of eight local women rallied together to ride the upcoming fourth annual Jackson's Ride the Gorge, presented by A4. Why the "Slow Spokes?" Because enjoying life is not a race, Anne explains. And why Jackson's Ride the Gorge? Because of Anne's close connection to Jackson Hill, a 12 year old boy who passed away after...
Read more or comment at ORbike
"Aggravated Driving While Suspended or Revoked" now a Class C felony
The Oregon Legislature approved the provsion Thursday, which includes some components of the Vehicular Homicide bill.
June 25, 2009
Crews begin work to add more lighting on I-205 bike/ped path
The project is being funded with $3.8 million of federal stimulus money. Additional lighting on the seven-mile section of the corridor will enhance safety for path users and encourage more people to walk and bike to transit.
All About PJs: Rider comes from Idaho to ride The Night Ride
Julie Morrison is looking forward to the rare opportunity to sport her pajamas while atop a fancifully decorated bike at The Night Ride on July 11, during her upcoming visit to Portland. Morrison is from Meridian, Idaho and will be riding with a small group of family and friends. What lured her into trekking from her hometown to join in the fun? "The craziness, the fact that it is so out of the ordinary for cycling... cycling in the dark!" BThe Night Ride on July 11 is an uber-fun, slightly spooky, totally delicious (all you can eat donuts!) supported ride...
Read more or comment at ORbike
Eye to Eye Summer Kick-off
This morning's press conference and bike bell giveaway focus on the theme "Room to Breathe."
Big Weekend : Big Fun
This is the final weekend of Pedalpalooza, and as always the festival plans to go out with a bang: the Multnomah County Bike Fair. This festival is not for the faint at heart. There will be tall bike jousting and other competitions, a raucous beer garden and live music. The bike craft zone features the bike-themed handiwork of local artists and crafters. There are also food vendors and other activities. The fun starts at 2pm at Col. Summers Park and the event ends at 7pm. If you haven't had a chance to fully soak in Pedalpalooza, now is your chance!...
Read more or comment at ORbike
Oregon Legislature approves cell phone ban
Read on to see how the BTA blog played a role in the Senate vote on Tuesday.
June 24, 2009
Coming Up on the KBOO Bike Show: Bicycle Justice
Sara and Elly host a conversation about bicycle justice, with lawyer Bob Mionske, author of Cycling and the Law and social worker Meghan Sinnott. Mionske will discuss the biases against bicycling inherent in law enforcement, the court system and the...
Read more or comment at Portland Transport
June 23, 2009
Neighborhood Navigators ready to go to press
Teachers throughout state tested new environmental curriculum......
June 22, 2009
CRC open houses feature bike/ped path update (and more)
Stop by between 5:30 and 7:30 on Tuesday in Jantzen Beach, or on Wednesday in Vancouver.
Local Advocacy 101
This Thursday, June 25, 6:00-8:00 pm, the BTA will be offering a chance for budding and seasoned transportation advocates to come around the table, learn some concrete strategies for effective advocacy, and identify next steps to take for an issue you care about.
June 21, 2009
A Good Time Was Had By All
Transportation Planner, Activist, Chanteuse and sometimes Portland Transport contributor Ellen Vanderslice performing at Arbor Lodge Park as part of Sunday Parkways 2009 The Good Kind of Congestion Fun for All Ages Since the weather forecast suggested showers might show...
Read more or comment at Portland Transport
June 19, 2009
Sunday Parkways: Superheros Still Needed
Sunday Parkways are eight mile "temporary parks" along city streets connecting neighborhoods and residents in North, Northeast and Southeast Portland. A relaxed, non-competitive, FREE event featuring a variety of activities in several parks and along the routes, Sunday Parkways gives Portlanders a chance to get out and be active right in their own neighborhoods. Intersections are staffed by volunteers, allowing residents to get to and from their driveways, with larger intersections supervised by Portland Police Bureau staff. s15,000 Portland area residents and 300 volunteers participated in last year's successful Sunday Parkways and asked for more in 2009....
Read more or comment at ORbike
June 17, 2009
Sunday Parkways: Is Your Family Ready to Ride?
Bring the kids and join BTA Ambassadors in Peninsula Park this Sunday for a quick training and ride to help youth be ready riders for all the great summer rides coming up.
June 16, 2009
Taco Ride : Chilango's Wins!
Pedalpalooza, the two-week festival of bike fun, is now if full swing and summer is definitely here. Last night's Taco Ride was a big hit with nearly 100 riders hopping from taqueria to taqueria to savor deliciously different tacos. Not all tacos al pastor are the same.... The winner, in my opinion, was Chilango's - hands down. This unassuming joint on NE Prescott at 15th features house-made super fresh tortillas. The only bummer is that they no longer sell their fluffy, soft tortillas in bulk. But their juicy, mouthwatering pork tacos with the complimentary spicy guacamole sauce.... now that's what...
Read more or comment at ORbike
Best Buy to Sell Electric Motorcycles
According to the Business Journal Best Buy will be selling Brammo electric motorcycles, which the publication labels as an "e-bike"....
Read more or comment at Portland Transport
June 15, 2009
Sunday Parkways Video
The City of Portland is opening streets to walking, bicycling, rolling, and roller blading - without having to watch out for cars! Sunday Parkways, sponsored by ORbike, are 7-8 mile "temporary parks" along city streets connecting neighborhoods and residents in Portland. After the overwhelming success of last year's event, this summer there will be three events: June 21 (North Portland), July 19 (Northeast Portland) and August 16 (Southeast Portland). Sunday Parkways gives you a chance to get out and be active in the neighborhood. Parks along the route feature activities, workshops, entertainment and food as the event celebrates Portland as...
Read more or comment at ORbike
June 14, 2009
"NO CRC" Ride Pedals Through N/NE Portland
To chants of "12 Lanes - Insane!" I rode with 60 or so other cyclists today on a "No CRC" (Columbia River Crossing) ride as part of Pedalpalooza, the annual bike festival. The ride was a co-production of local...
Read more or comment at Portland Transport
June 10, 2009
London's Cycle Network
Portland State University Center for Transportation Studies Summer 2009 Transportation Seminar Series Speaker: Steve Cardno London Cycle Network, Project Manager Topic: Building the London Cycle Network - 900km of Fast, Safe, and Comfortable Bike Routes When: Monday, June 15, 2009,...
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June 09, 2009
Wine Rides to Support Children's Heart Foundation
Join The Bike Gallery this summer on their popular wine rides, featuring quiet, rural roads, acclaimed Northern Willamette Valley wineries, and 100% benefiting the Children's Heart Foundation. This year you can choose between four rides, starting and ending at three different wineries: Penner-Ash, Vista Hills and Stoller Vineyards. Rides are 30-40 miles with rolling hills. The route is approximately 32 miles long and includes several rolling hills. There will be a rest stop at the mid point of the ride and some roving support. The extra good stuff comes at the end. The ride finishes with wine tasting and a...
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June 08, 2009
Kids' Ride!
Cirque du Cycling, June 13th, is a full day of bike fair action along Mississippi Avenue. The Family Ride is a 3.2 mile course starts at Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI) and is perfect for all ages and abilities. The course will wind through the residential streets of Boise-Elliot up to Peninsula Park for a fun rest stop, then loops back to SEI. The ride is free and it's a great warm-up for Sunday Parkways. It's free! From 12-3 there is a Fun Zone hosted at Grand Central Baking on Fremont, so kids can deck out their bikes in style. The...
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June 04, 2009
Updated: Local Boy Makes Good
Updated: 6/4/09 The guy is everywhere! He's a featured guest on this week's "Smart City" radio show/podcast. Can you say "tipping point"? Original Post: 6/2/09 I reviewed Jeff Mapes' "Pedaling Revolution" back in January. Now Jeff has a NY Times...
Read more or comment at Portland Transport
June 03, 2009
KBOO Bike Show: Sunday Parkways 2009
Listen to the show (mp3, 26.9MB) Sara and Beth talk with Linda Ginenthal of PDOT and Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder about Sunday Parkways, three events this summer that will transform over 7 miles of neighborhood streets into temporary parks,...
Read more or comment at Portland Transport
June 01, 2009
All Ladies Tall Bike Troupe
Get ready to see the amazing feats of the Irondelles, the all-ladies tall bike troupe that's getting ready to strut their stuff as they roll along Mississippi Ave. as a part of the Cirque du Cycling Art Bike Parade on June 13th. The parade features all sorts of amazing art and freak bikes: bikes that swing side to side, bikes that look like sculpture, and bikes so tall they look like they'd be impossible to ride. The Irondelles will be riding those tall bikes in their impressive costumery. (pictured here is Irondelle Tia welding her tall bike). This group of...
Read more or comment at ORbike
May 27, 2009
Coming Up on the KBOO Bike Show: Sunday Parkways
Host Sara and Beth will talk with Linda Ginenthal of PDOT and Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder about Sunday Parkways, three events this summer that will transform over 7 miles of neighborhood streets into temporary parks, so we can enjoy walking,...
Read more or comment at Portland Transport
May 26, 2009
Two Special Transportation Seminars at PSU
Peter Furth from Northeastern is visiting PSU this week, leading to a couple of extra Transportation Seminars: Speaker: Peter Furth Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University Topic: Aggressive Signal Priority with Compensation: Maximizing the Transit Benefit Without Disrupting...
Read more or comment at Portland Transport
May 23, 2009
Shutte Up, Bomb Down: Mt. Bike Oregon
Mt. Bike Oregon is a mt. biker's dream come true. But don't just take our word for it. Here's what Chester, a 2007 rider, once told the organizers, "It's like MBO took all the inconvenient parts of a mountain biking weekend and did them for us. They scope out the trails - we ride them, they shuttle up - we bomb down, they cook - we eat, they tap the kegs - we drink the beer. Everyone was super friendly and super helpful and the riding was just amazing. Thanks for a great weekend." And speaking of beer, this year's...
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May 22, 2009
Jackson's Ride the Gorge - NOT to be Missed!
Experience the Columbia River Gorge like you've never seen it before on Jackson's Ride the Gorge, an incredibly supported ride through Oregon and Washington's stunning landscape on July 18. The well-planned course crosses bridges over the mighty Columbia and explores Oregon and Washington. You'll encounter "gorge"ous (I couldn't resist!) views on all three of the mostly-flat routes: 100 miles, 50 miles and a 14 mile family ride....
Read more or comment at ORbike
May 20, 2009
Local Business to Save the Twilight Crit
Portland is a world-class cycling city, well known for smart planning, innovative projects and thousands of people happily commuting to work - rain or shine. So it seems fitting that we have, a world-class street race - the Portland Twilight Criterium - that draws professional racers from around the world. 20,000 spectators flock to downtown Portland for a night of fast-paced racing action around the park blocks. But this year, as the title sponsor bowed out in light of severe budget cuts, the Portland Twilight Criterium is facing the dire fate of being canceled. Determined not to let that happen,...
Read more or comment at ORbike
May 19, 2009
Planning for a World-Class Cycle City
No lunch plans next Thursday? Take a spin over to PBOT's Bicycle Brown Bag lunch series, a chance to discuss cycling issues during your lunch break. PDOT brings in expert speakers and the audience has a chance to ask questions. This month's topic is The Platinum Bicycle Master Plan - Planning for a World-Class Cycle City on Thursday, May 21th, 12:00 - 1:00. Since the first Bicycle Master Plan was adopted, Portland has more than doubled our bikeway network, to 300+ miles. We've added thousands of bicycle parking spaces. There are almost daily bike rides, events, and activities. We have...
Read more or comment at ORbike
May 18, 2009
Pedal Potluck Picnic
The Pedal Potluck Picnic rides are returning for their fifth season of casual biking and delicious snacking. The rides traverse an average of 3-5 miles with a different route each time. The end destination is a mystery park or ark-like setting. Organizer Shawn Granton, a local historian with extensive cycling fun knowledge says, "The term 'park' will be used liberally here, so expect the unexpected!" At the endpoint the group enjoys a picnic dinner, potluck style. Participants are asked to bring food and drink to share (preferably vegetarian and vegan). In the event of rain, the rides end at a...
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May 08, 2009
A Spring Treat
The first bike corral in my neighborhood in NW Portland was installed today in front of the Dragonfly Coffee House at NW Thurman and 24th... (appologies for the cell-phone quality photos)...
Read more or comment at Portland Transport
May 06, 2009
KBOO Bike Show: New to Cycling?
Listen to the show (mp3, 27.3MB) Getting started: Learn to leave your car or the bus behind and start riding your bike more. Knowing how to ride a bike isn't the same as knowing how to commute on city...
Read more or comment at Portland Transport
May 04, 2009
Coming Up on the KBOO Bike Show: Becoming a Bike Commuter
Getting started: Learn to leave your car or the bus behind and start riding your bike more. Knowing how to ride a bike isn't the same as knowing how to commute on city streets. Hosts will interview people who started...
Read more or comment at Portland Transport
April 27, 2009
All Bikes at City Club This Week
From the City Club bulletin: In Portland, bicycling is more than a way to get around - it's a way of life. According to the League of American Bicyclists, Portland is America's number-one major city for biking. A significant economic...
Read more or comment at Portland Transport
April 14, 2009
Two Cycling CRC Opinions
Yesterday's Oregonian (if we broaden the definition to include the OregonLive.com site) had two different opinion pieces on the Columbia River Crossing, both touching on bikes. On the op-ed page, BTA Executive Director Scott Bricker explains his organization's recent shift...
